EXTENDED THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OCULAR IMPLANT TREATMENTS

• US 20080241222A1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weber, David A., WHITCUP, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US12/055,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20080241222A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/428
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/165 having aromatic rings, e.g. colchicine, atenolol, progabide
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/56 Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/57 substituted in position 17 beta by a chain of two carbon atoms, e.g. pregnane or progesterone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/3955 against proteinaceous materials, e.g. enzymes, hormones, lymphokines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/34 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyesters, polyamino acids, polysiloxanes, polyphosphazines, copolymers of polyalkylene glycol or poloxamers A61K47/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1647 Polyesters, e.g. poly(lactide-co-glycolide)
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/00 Drugs for disorders of the senses
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/18 against material from animals or humans
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/22 against growth factors ; against growth regulators

Abstract

Methods for treating ocular conditions by inserting an implant comprising an active agent into an ocular site of a patient thereby obtaining an amelioration of a symptom of the ocular condition (i.e. a therapeutic effect) for an extended period of time during which a therapeutic amount or a detectable amount of the active agent is not present at the ocular site.

Claims

1. (canceled)

18. A method for treating a chronic ocular condition, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting an implant into an ocular site of a patient with an ocular condition, the implant comprising (i) an active agent, and (ii) a carrier associated with the active agent;

(b) releasing substantially all of the active agent from the implant during a first period of time;

(c) obtaining an improvement in ocular condition during a second period of time when a therapeutic amount of the active agent is not present at the ocular site, and;

(d) maintaining the improvement in the ocular condition for an extended period of time during which a therapeutic amount of the active agent is not present at the ocular site.

2. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of maintaining the improvement in the ocular condition for an extended period of time during which a therapeutic amount of the active agent is not present at the ocular site.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the releasing step occurs over a first period of time X, and said second period of time occurs over a period of time between 0.5X and 100X, and wherein during said second period of time an improvement in the ocular condition is maintained, although a therapeutic amount of the active agent is not present at the ocular site.

4. The method of claim 18, wherein the active agent is an anti-inflammatory agent.

5. The method of claim 18, wherein the carrier is a bioerodible polymer.

6. The method of claim 18, wherein the implant has a weight between about 1 μ

g and about 100 mg.

7. The method of claim 18, wherein the implant has no dimension less than about 0.1 mm and no dimension greater than about 20 mm.

8. The method of claim 18, wherein the improvement of the ocular condition is determined by observing an improved visual acuity.

9. The method of claim 18, wherein the improvement of the ocular condition is determined by observing an improved visual contrast sensitivity.

10. The method of claim 18, wherein the improvement of the ocular condition is determined by observing a decreased retinal or choroidal blood vessel leakage.

11. The method of claim 18, wherein the improvement of the ocular condition is determined by observing a decreased retinal or macular thickness.

12. The method of claim 18, wherein the improvement in the ocular condition occurs at a time when a detectable amount of the active agent is not present at the ocular site.

13. The method of claim 18, wherein the ocular site is the vitreous.

14. The method of claim 18, wherein the active agent is dexamethasone.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein the first period of time is between about 30 days and about 40 days.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein the first period of time is about 35 days.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second period of time is between about 30 days and about 180 days.

19-30. -30. (canceled)